Air deflector



J. R. THORP A IR DEFLECTOR Jan. 5, 1937.

Filed Aug. 1, 1934 INVENTOR.

w m 0 w A of the prior Benzick device above referred to,

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joel E. Thorp, West Allis, Wis., assignor to'The Fulton Company, West Allis, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 1, 1934, Serial No. 737,897

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of ventilating movable enclosures, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of air deflectors associable with the main windows of vehicles for the purpose of effecting controllable ventilation of the interior of the vehicles with minimum discomfort to the occupants.

An object of theinvention is to provide an improvedair deflector for vehicles, which is simple and durable in construction, and which may be readily displaced from normal position for the purpose of permitting access to all portions of the main window with which the deflector is associated.

It has heretofore been proposed, as shown and described in Benzick application Serial No. 693,592, filed October, 14, 1933, to provide a ventilating shield associable with the side window reveal of an automobile in such manner that the shield may normally be angularly adjusted about a substantially vertical axis located closely adjacent the outer surface of the main, vertical- 1y slidable window, combined with mechanism carried by the upper shield supporting bracket for releasing the upper end of the shield and for permitting swinging thereof away from the main window about a substantially horizontal hinge associated with the lower shield supporting bracket. Such swinging of the ventilating or air deflecting shield away from the main window is desirable for the purpose of permitting ready access to all portions of the outer surface of the main window glass, especially for cleaning of the latter, and the prior structure just referred to has proven highly successful and beneficial in actual commercial. use. However, due to the fact that the upper release for the deflector shield of this prior device is associated directly with the upper, fixed, supporting bracket of the ventilator, this bracket is relatively complicated in structure and difficult to manufacture and to apply to the irregular reveals of most vehicles, and this structural complexity also makes the releasing mechanism somewhat difficult to actuate.

The present invention therefore contemplates provision of releasing mechanism for an end of a normally pivotally adjustable air deflector, which eliminates the defects and complications but which possesses all of the desirable features thereof.

Another specific object of thepresent invention is to provide improved mechanism for dis:

conecting a ventilating shield from its normal supporting bracket quickly and with minimum effort.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improved, releasable, normally swing- 5 able window wing for vehicular windows, which may be readily manufactured, installed, and manipulated so as to effect free access to all portions of the main window structure.

Still another specific object of the invention 10 is to provide an improved lever release which is carried directly by the shield of an air deflector and which is cooperable with a simple bracket attachable to odd-shaped window reveals of various types of automobiles, so as to permit most 15.-

eifeotive, normal pivotal supporting of the shield and rapid removal thereof from normal position.

An-additional specific object of the present invention is to provide a durable ventilating accessory which may be attached to any standard car to produce a highly finished and attractive appearance without undesirably marring the vehicle.

Another specific object of the invention isto provide an improved, locked pivot bearing which: 25;

released into normal position.

These and other specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of several embodiments of the invention, and of the mode of constructing, applying, and of utilizing-air deflectors built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. lis an inside elevation of the upper portion of the'frontdoorof an automobile, showing one of the improved air deflectors attachedthere- 50 to adjacent'the upper and lower parts ofthe main window reveal, and also showing the main window glass partially lowered;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thruthe outer portion ofthe main window frame of'the door 5.

, releasable upper mounting for an air deflector,

structure of Fig. 1, showing a full top view of the air deflector in normal, active position;

Fig. 3 is a section thru the air deflector and window assemblage of Fig. 1, taken along the line 33 and showing the main window partially lowered, while the deflector shield is shown in full line active position and in dot-and-dash position removed from the plane of sliding of the main window;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top view and section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the lower mounting for the air tor; p V

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged section thru the releasable upper mounting for the shieldzof Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, showing the pivot bearing in released position; a

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified type of showing the parts in normal or active position; and I Fig. (is a similar view'of the modified struc-- ture of Fig. 6, showing the partsin released posipresent invention since they form the subject of my prior application Serial No. 690,822, filed September 25, 1933, and of the said'Benzick application Serial No. 693,592, fled October 14,

Referring specifically to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawing, the improved Ventilator or air deflector shown therein comprises generally a transparent deflector shield I5 preferably formed of plate or shatter-proof glass; upper and lower pivot elements I6, II respectivelyassociated with a protective channel strip. I8 permanently attached to and covering the front edge and for ward portions of the'upper and lower edges of the shield I5 and upper and lower bracket elements I8, 28 respectively, coacting with the pivot elements I6, I! and adapted for permanent attachment to the upper and lower forward portions 2|, 22 of the reveal of the main side window 23 of an automobile.

A packing of resilient material such as sheet rubber may be interposed between the protecting lever 24 at one side of the pivot pin 2Ii is provided with a manipulating handle 21, while the opposite end portion of thislever-is formed as a bearing ball 28; and a coiled compression spring 29 coacts with the flange 25 and with the ball endof the lever 24 so as to constantlyurge the bearing ball 28 in an upward direction, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The upper bracket element I9 is formd of.

sheet metal and comprises a flange3|l engageable with the inner side of the upper reveal portion 2|, and a socket 3| adapted to receive the lever It is also to be under- ,oec,4sa ball 28 so as to permit universal pivotal motion while the lever ball 28 normally engages the deflector shield I5, this ball may be withdrawn from the pivot socket as-shown in Fig. 5, by

manently attached to the adjacent upper reveal; portion 2| by means of screws or otherwise; and

-socket-3| to providea pivotal mounting for the I merely applying thumb pressure to the handle 21 of the lever 24.

The lower pivot element I1 comprisesa bifurcated, sheet metal member 33 horizontally swingably attached tospaced ears 34 formed integral with the lower portion of the channel strip I8 by a lower hinge pivot pin 35, and the bi- I furcations of the member 33 are spaced vertically and are formed with-adjacent, spherical,

zone surfaces The lower portionof the strip I8 adjacent the ears'34 is provided with a stop flange 36 which is adapted to engage the lower portion of the member-33 to definitely limit the outward swinging of the shield about the pivot pin 35 when the ball 28 is released from the pivot socket 3| of the upper bracket,'as will be apparent from Fig. 4.

The lower bracket element 28 is likewise preferably formed of sheet metal, being adapted for permanent and rigid attachment to the inner side of the lower reveal po'rtion 22by means of screws 31 or the like as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The bracket element 20 has an integral projec-- tion 38 shown in Fig. 4 for definitely positioning the same relative to the screw or bolt holes in the revealportion 22, and also has an integral, outwardly extending, spherically curved projection 39 adapted to be positioned between the spherical zone surfaces of the bifurcations of the member 33. A pivot bolt 40 having an adjustable clamping-nut and a lock'washer, associated therewith, penetrates alined holes in the bifurcations of the member 33 and a somewhat larger holeinthe fixed projection 39, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This pivot bolt 4!! permits pivotal movement of the shield I5 about a substantially vertical axis which is not necessarily alined with thepivotal axis of the ball 28 and socket 3|, and the nut 4| may be adjusted to providesufiicient friction between the projection 39 and the'bif urcations of the pivot member 33 so that the shield I5 will be maintained in various positions of pivotal adjustment.

In the modified type of releasing mechanism for the upper pivot and bracket elements, specifl cally shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the lever 24' which carries the pivot ball 28 intermediate its ends, has a handle .21 at one end thereof and a pivot pin 26' coacting with its opposite end, the pivot 26 again being mounted in a flange 25' formed integral with the reenforcing channel strip I8 of the shield |5. The bracket element I9 which cooperates with the pivot element I6 is provided shown in Fig. '7 so asto release the ball .28;v fromv the socket3l', theshield I5 may again be swung outwardlyabout its lower hinge pivot and; away from the plane of sliding'of the main window 23. The remaining structure: of. the modification, including the lower pivot and bracket elements, is the same as shown in Figs. 1- to 4 inclusive,,and

the mode of installing and of manipulating the modified assemblage is the same as in the main.

embodiment, except for the release of .tlieupper pivotal connection.

The improved air deflector is shown fully assembled and installed in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and

when. thus applied, the shield I5 is swingably ad-v justable to any desired angular position relative to the plane of sliding of the main window 23, so as to either prevent air from entering the vehicle. enclosure. while the same is in motion, or to. scoop air into. this enclosure. When the shield is set at but a limited angle relative to the main window 23, the latter may be freely, vertically adjusted without obstruction by the wing, and the shield I5 may be adjusted to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 3, when not being used for air circulating purposes. The friction at the upper and lower pivot elements I6, I! will normally hold the shield I5 in any desired position of adjustment, while permitting convenient change in the angular setting of the shield, which may, if desired, be almost completely rotated when the main window 23 is lowered or opened entirely.

If it becomes desirable to obtain access to the outer surface of the main window 23 adjacent to the ventilating device, the deflector shield may be readily released by applying thumb pressure to the handle 2'! of the lever 24, sufficiently to release the ball 28 from the socket 3|, whereupon the shield I5 may be swung into the dot-and-dash line position indicated in Fig. 3, the stop flange 26 retaining the shield in such position upon release of the lever handle 21. The main window 23 may then be elevated and the outer surface thereof cleaned. Such outward swinging of the ventilating shield I5 may be effected even if the pivot elements I6, H are not swung into a position wherein the shield I5 is parallel to the plane of sliding of the window 23, and is permitted by virtue of the horizontal disposition of the hinge pivot 35. When it is desired to reestablish the pivotal connection between the upper pivot element I6 and the bracket element I9, it is merely necessary to swing the shield I5 inwardly to cause the ball 28 to snap into the socket 3|, the spring 29 permitting such automatic reestablishment of the connection. With the shield I5 returned to normal position, it may again be angularly adjusted as desired for ventilating purposes.

As previously indicated, the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 will function in identically the same manner, but the release in the modification is obtained by pulling down upon the lever 24 instead of pressing upwardly thereagainst as in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5. In both forms of the invention, the releasing mechanism for the upper pivot is carried directly by the shield, and is of relatively simple form and readily operable.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple, compact, and readily adjustable deflector shield structure which may be conveniently removed so as to permit unobstructed access to the outer surface of the main window 23 with which the air deflector cooperates. The assemblage thamtopermit removal of the-shield I5 for-:the

purpose. of gainingqaccess .to the external, surface.

of the mainzwindow 23.; Undesirable stress in the transparent shield I5" is eliminatedin thepresent' device, solely by the universal pivotal connections between the pivotalelements I6, I! and the supporting bracket elements. I9," 20;; andby virtue-of the useof; such universal pivotal connections, the

fiector: has proven highly successful 111130171181 commercial use and can be manufactured and sold atmoderate cost.

-It should. be understood that it: is not desired: to limit the present invention to theexact details of construction and operation hereinshown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims 'may occur to persons skilled in the arts Itisclaimed and desired to secureiby. Letters Patent:

1. In combination with a main window, a deflector shield, lower and upper brackets for supporting said shield from adjacent portions of the main window reveal, a pivot element carried by the lower medial part of said shield and permanently universally pivotally connected to said lower bracket, said pivot element providing a horizontal hinge for said shield, an upper pivot element carried by the upper medial part of said shield and normally having universal pivotal cooperation with said upper bracket, and a movable lever carried by said shield and coacting with said upper pivot element to detach the latter from said upper bracket.

2. In combination with a main window, a defiector shield, lower and upper brackets for supporting said shield from adjacent portions of the main window reveal, a pivot element carried by the lower medial part of said shield and permanently universally pivotally connected to said lower bracket, said pivot element providing a horizontal hinge for said shield, an upper pivot element carried by the upper medial part of said shield and normally having universal pivotal cooperation with said upper bracket, a movable lever carried by said shield and coacting with said upper pivot element to detach the latter from said upper bracket, and resilient means coacting with said lever to normally hold said upper pivot in pivotal engagement with said upper bracket.

3. In combination with a main window, a deflector shield located adjacent the plane of sliding of the main window, a pivot element between the lower portion of the main window reveal and the adjacent portion of said shield, said pivot element affording both a vertical pivotal mounting for the lower end of said shield and a hinge for permitting swinging of said shield away from the vertical pivotal axis, a lever pivotally supported upon the upper end of saidshield, and a spherical pivot carried by said lever and cooperating with the adjacent upper portion of the main window reveal toprovide a pivotal mounting for the upper shield portion, said spherical pivot being releasable by means of said lever to permit swinging of said shield upon the hinge afforded by the lower pivot element.

4. In combintion with a main window, a defiector shield, a combined hinge and pivot element interposed between the lower medial pormayrbe .readilyappli'edfito' various-typeset vehicles. having revealsof various shapes, andthe lower, horizontal hingepivot 35 servesno function other...

ment interposed between the lower end of said, shield and the adjacent portion of the main win dow reveal, a socket associated with an upper portion of the main window reveal, a lever pivotally attached'to the upper portion of said shield, and aball carried'by said lever and cooperating with said socket to provide an upper pivotal mounti'ngfor said shield, said ball' being removable from saidsocket to permitswinging of said shield upon said lower hinge element.

-6. In combination'with a main window, a de flector shield, a combined hinge and pivot element interposed between thelower end of said shield'an'dthe adjacent portion of the main win- 2,oec,4s2'

dow revea1,.a socketassociated with an upper portion of the main' window reveaLa lever piv-' otally attached to the upper portion of said shield, a ball carried by said lever and cooperating with said socket to provide an upper pivotal mounting for said shield, said ball being removable from saidsocket to permit swinging of said shield upon said lower hinge element,and resilient means also coacting with said'lever-for constantly urgingsaid ball toward said socket, l

7. In combination with a main window, a deflector shield, a hinge element interposed between the lower end of said shield and the adjacent portion of the main window reveal, a socket'fixedly associated with an upper portion of the main window reveal, a pivot ballresiliently supported by the upper portion of said shield and cooperatu ing' with said socket tonprovide a detachable piv-z otal connection, and means carried by said shield for removing said ball from said socket to permit swinging of said 'shieldupon said hinge element. r

VJOEL R. THORP. 

